In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, women continue to face significant obstacles despite making strides in representation and leadership. Web Summit’s 2024 Women in Tech report unveils a complex picture of progress and persistent challenges, offering insights into the experiences of over 1,000 women in the tech sector.

Key Findings: A Mixed Bag of Progress and Stagnation

The report highlights several critical areas:

• Funding Woes: Nearly 30% of respondents cite funding as a major hurdle for starting businesses, reflecting global trends of women-led startups struggling to secure venture capital.
• Leadership Gap: Over half note a lack of women in leadership roles, with 51% feeling unfairly compensated compared to men.
• Work-Life Balance: 49.1% feel pressured to choose between family and career, a 7% increase from the previous year.
• Workplace Sexism: A stubborn 50.8% report experiencing sexism, a figure that has shown little improvement.

Despite these challenges, there’s a silver lining: 76% of surveyed women feel empowered to pursue leadership positions.

AI: A Potential Game-Changer for Gender Equity

Amidst the challenges, there’s optimism about AI’s potential to drive positive change. Over 68% of respondents have a positive outlook on AI and automation’s impact on gender equity. This aligns with recent PWC insights suggesting AI can expand talent pools and address bias in talent management when used responsibly.

Web Summit’s Role in Driving Change

Web Summit has been at the forefront of addressing gender inequality in tech:

• Their Women in Tech Programme, launched in 2015, offers discounts to encourage women’s participation.
• Female attendance has skyrocketed from 25% in 2013 to maintaining near parity since 2021.
• This year’s event will feature a record-breaking 1,000 women-founded startups out of 3,000 total.

Carolyn Quinlan, VP of community at Web Summit, remains cautiously optimistic: “It’s frustrating that issues like sexism, unfair pay, imposter syndrome, and work-life balance keep appearing—it often feels like we’re stuck in the same conversations. Yet, I can’t help but feel hopeful.”

Looking Ahead: The Path Forward

While progress is evident, the tech industry still has work to do. The report shows 56% of women feel the industry isn’t doing enough to tackle gender inequality, and 69% are dissatisfied with their government’s efforts.

As one participant noted, “Being the only woman among male peers in a senior management position allows me to bring other women into similar roles. I have the opportunity to open more spaces for the next women who arrive.”

With continued focus on these issues and platforms like Web Summit driving the conversation, the tech industry moves closer to a more inclusive and equitable future for all.